[2016] Alone and Pregnant

by Christian Michael

  Kayla didn’t know what to say to that. She liked Curt Langley, but she wasn’t at all sure that this arrangement would be about anything other than securing her future for now. Desperation had made her answer his ad and while he was certainly good looking and a gentleman; that didn’t mean she was ready to call it love, not even close.

  Kayla deposited her satchel in her room, freshened up a bit and met Curt downstairs about ten minutes later.

  “How are the accommodations? I’ve heard Katie McClaire runs a tight ship.”

  “They’re nice. The rooms seem clean and Katie is nice.”

  “Good,” Curt smiled. “I’d hate to imagine you hating being here.”

  “On the contrary Curt, I’m increasingly glad I came.”

  “Excellent,” he agreed. “Now, how about some pie and coffee?”

  “I’d love some.”

  ***

  They were seated quickly and ordered two slices of apple pie and coffee. “How do you take yours?”

  “With cream and sugar. My mom used to say that I got it from her, but as I grew older I realized that my dad did pretty well with the cream and sugar as well.”

  “She used to say that?” Curt asked, his eyes already full of sympathy.

  “My parents were killed in an accident three weeks ago. Forgive me for saying so, but answering your ad was an act of desperation. The only money I had left went toward burial costs and I had nothing left.”

  “I’m so sorry Kayla,” Curt said. What else could he say? His parents were still alive and kicking. He could say he knew how she felt, but he was beyond sorry that she’d lost both her parents in one day, especially at such a young age. She couldn’t be more than twenty. “May I ask how old you are?”

  “I’m eighteen. We celebrated my birthday just a month before they passed.” For eighteen Kayla seemed so much more mature than other women he’d had conversations with since taking over his parent’s ranch.

  “Happy belated birthday Kayla,” Curt said. “Can you tell me what you hope happens from here?”

  “Well, your ad said that you were looking for a mail order bride so I guess I’d hope that we would move in that direction. I know God’s leading is extremely important. I’m just having trouble figuring out what that will is at the moment.”

  “When I was much younger, my little brother was climbing a tree that I had convinced him he could climb. He fell and hit his head. He had a broken arm and several cracked ribs as well. By the time the doctor could make it out to our house, my brother was unconscious. He passed away two days later. The doctor said the hit to his head had been too severe to manage properly.”

  “Oh Curt,” Kayla sighed. Curt felt her hand squeeze his, her pretty grass green eyes welling with tears. “I’m sorry about your brother.”

  “Me too,” he said, his own voice shaky. “I carried the guilt around for a long, long time. One day something happened at the ranch that I couldn’t prevent and God used that incident to show me that even though I had encouraged my brother to climb the tree; it wasn’t my fault that he fell out of it. It still took me a while, but I was able to finally forgive myself.”

  “I’m glad,” Kayla said. She smiled and made Curt smile in return. Already she was effecting him. Her smiled and positive attitude were infectious. He found that he liked it. They spent time talking more about the arrangement and their individual lives. It wasn’t until Curt told Kayla his idea of their arrangement that things ground to a halt. “So you’re saying that you don’t intend to make this a permanent thing? You just had me come out here to cook and clean for you?”

  “When you say it like that it doesn’t sound as nice as I’d originally thought.” Curt didn’t know what to do now. She didn’t seem happy about the terms of the arrangement now that he’d told her he wasn’t interested in marriage. “I just…I didn’t know how to ask a woman to come all the way out here to be my maid. It sounded better to say that I needed a mail-order bride.”

  “It would have been more honest.” He couldn’t refute that point. Forgive me Lord. Kayla has a valid point; I should have been honest about my real intentions.

  “I can’t take back what’s happened Kayla, but I’m more than willing to make it worth your while to stay.”

  “Then we should change this conversation to an interview. I learned to cook at my mother’s side. This is the first time I’ve eaten at a restaurant in ten years probably. I also learned to clean at her side. I can clean your laundry, dishes, mop your floors and anything else you need done. I’m also an average seamstress, should you need anything mended or made.”

  Curt could tell by the tone of her voice that she wasn’t happy about the sudden turn of events. He couldn’t really blame her. She’d spent a week expecting to meet a man she hoped to marry. He was dashing her dreams before she’d ever really made them. “I’ll need you five days a week and you’ll have Saturdays and Sundays off. You’ll work from ten AM until three PM with plenty of time for lunch, which will be provided for you.”

  “Alright,” Kayla said, that new demeanor still in place. “Well this has been a great business meeting, but I need to be going. I have to get settled before I start work in the morning.”

  “Don’t you want to see the ranch?” Curt asked.

  “There’s no need. I can see it in the morning and it’ll save us both time. Have a good day Mr. Langley.”

  She stuck her hand over the table and dismayed, Curt shook it. “Have a good day as well Miss Anderson.”

  Stunned by how much he wanted her to want to see the ranch, Curt sat there for another ten minutes mechanically eating his pie. She’d become a different person once she knew he wasn’t interested in marriage. He couldn’t fathom how much he liked the old Kayla better.

  ***

  Fuming, Kayla headed for the dress maker’s shop. “Good afternoon,” the man at the till greeted her. “Welcome to Lubbock.”

  “Thank you,” Kayla smiled. She immediately went to the fabric isle and picked out five useable bolts of fabric. She bought a denim fabric that would work well for shirts and trousers. Another that would be a good suit making material and two flowered patterns that would make her several dresses and blouses. She also bought a bonnet for her hair before cashing out.

  With her items in hand she started across the street when a gentleman stopped her. “May I help you with your packages Miss?”

  “I’d appreciate that, thank you.”

  “It’s not a problem Miss-“

  “Anderson. Kayla Anderson.”

  “That’s a mighty pretty name ma’am,” the man said. Kayla smiled. He was cute with his light brown hair the color of brown sugar with a hint of lemon. His blue eyes, while not quite as bright as Curt’s still shined. “You’re new to town I take it?”

  “How’d you guess?”

  “You’re heading for the boarding house and you don’t have a ring on your finger. Pardon my mentioning it.

  “That’s alright,” Kayla said. “I am new to town. I just arrived this afternoon.”

  “Where do you hail from?”

  “I’m from New Jersey. It’s on the east coast.”

  “Wow. Is the Atlantic Ocean as beautiful as people say?”

  “It’s breathtaking. Not to mention that it can go from beautiful and serene to stormy and rambunctious all at once.”

  “It sounds beautiful.”

  “It is.”

  “This may seem forward, but could I take you to dinner sometime?”

  “I would like that,” Kayla said. “I’d have to insist on a chaperone, however.”

  “Absolutely,” the man said. “My sister and her beau could join us if you like.”

  “That sounds good. Can I know your name?”

  The man laughed. “Forgive me Miss Kayla. My name is Buck Tyson.”

  “It’s nice to meet you Buck. When should I expect you?”

  “Is six o’clock okay?”

  “That sounds fine.”

  “E
xcellent. I’ll see you then Kayla.”

  “See you then Buck.”

  ***

  The next morning Curt woke feeling just as lousy as he had the evening before. Today was Kayla’s first day of work and he knew he needed to clear the air between them. When she showed up though, he felt tongue-tied and completely unsure of himself, a trait that was out of character for him.

  “Good morning,” she said, a smile pasted on her pretty face.

  “Morning,” Curt returned, shielding his eyes from the sun. Suddenly his morning coffee tasted like sandpaper. “Did you have a nice first night here in Lubbock?”

  “I had a wonderful time, yes. Buck Tyson took me to dinner with his sister and her beau. We had a great time.”

  “That’s excellent,” Curt said, feeling even more rotten. “If you’re ready, I’ll take you on a tour so you can get used to my place.”

  Curt took Kayla through his house first, showing her the bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and laundry areas. He showed her the mudroom and the back stoop as well.

  “What will my jobs include?”

  “I’ll expect you to keep the house clean. Change the sheets once a week, keep up the laundry and cook. Anything you do outside those will be extra pay.”

  “And what is my expected pay to begin?”

  “I’ll pay you ten dollars a week for your regular work. Anything beyond that can be negotiated at the time of service.”

  “Alright,” Kayla agreed. “May I get started? There’s quite a bit to do.”

  “I’ll pay you ten dollars for today and ten for the week on Friday.”

  “Thank you,” Kayla said.

  ***

  She started in the bedrooms, stripping sheets for the laundry and finding new sheets in the linen closet. She threw the sheets down by the washer and went do dust the bedrooms. Once she’d run the sheets through the ringer washer she took them outside to hang them up on the line, whistling while she did.

  She found the busier she stayed, the less she thought about her stubborn and deceitful boss. Still frustrated that she’d been brought out to the arid desert of Texas to be a maid instead of a wife, she couldn’t bring herself to forgive him, no matter how handsome he was.

  “Will you have lunch now Mr. Langley?”

  “I’d ask you to call me Curt if you will and yes lunch would be nice.” Kayla bit her tongue. She needed this job and telling her boss that she’d prefer he be honest as well wasn’t a good way to ensure that happened.

  “Fine,” Kayla said, getting a prick from her spirit. Sighing she turned back toward him, noting the hurt in his still stunning eyes. “I’m sorry Curt. I was admittedly caught off guard by your admission yesterday, but that’s no reason to make us both miserable. Please tell me though, that from here on out you’ll always be honest and upfront with me. If there’s something I need to know, tell me.”

  “I can do that,” the man said, looking even better when he smiled. “So tell me, did you really have fun on your date with Buck Tyson?”

  “I did,” Kayla grinned. “He’s energetic and kind. He can hold a decent conversation which is something I find particularly important. He is stable and well-balanced, more important factors.”

  “He bored you didn’t he?”

  “He nearly made my ears ring,” Kayla chuckled. “I’m sorry, he is a very sweet man, but I told him that there just wasn’t anything there for me beyond friendship.”

  “How’d he take it?”

  “He’s too much of a gentleman to make a scene, but I could tell he was a little hurt. I told him that I thought it better to let him know straight away rather than drag it out. He still wasn’t pleased, until I told him that there was a pretty blonde looking his way.”

  “That was sweet of you.”

  “Nah. I always try to be nice. I even told him I didn’t care if he went over and talked to her.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Buck is kind and sweet. I didn’t want her to get away, seeing as there’s ten men for every woman out here. I’d imagine that number gets a larger gap if you compare the men to every single woman ere.”

  “I’d assume you’re right.”

  “It’s always good to assume I’m right,” Kayla laughed. She made hazelnut soup and sandwiches, serving Curt and then herself.

  “This is fantastic,” Curt said, digging into his soup after saying grace. “Can I ask you a question? It’s something I’ve always wondered but never had the right person to ask.”

  “Sure.”

  “How would you raise a child?”

  “One of my own or someone else’s?”

  “Either.”

  “Well if the child belonged to someone else, I’d have to raise it according to what they thought was right. If, however, the child was mind, I’d raise him or her in the admonition of the Lord. My child would learn that God loves them, that their life should reflect that love, and that no matter what, nothing can separate us from that love.”

  ***

  Curt thought about his time with Kayla for a long while after she’d gone home. He’d driven her into town and at her request dropped her at the library. He thought over their conversation as he drove home and ate dinner. She’d declined his offer to stay and have dinner with him, saying she had some things to take care of.

  He still couldn’t get over how beautiful she was. Much more so than he’d been expecting. She was smart as well and a pleasure to talk to, as long as she wasn’t miffed at him. He smiled knowing it was his own fault. If he’d been upfront and honest, even in that first telegraph, she’d have been able to decide if the job he offered her what she was looking for.

  Still, it had worked out for the best. He certainly couldn’t complain about her work. She’d done his sheets, dusted, swept and mopped the kitchen. Made lunch and had left enough for supper as well. She’d swept the stoop and the large front porch as well. By the time she left, Curt found himself wondering if tomorrow she’d have anything left to do but cook for him.

  Getting ready for bed, Curt spent time in prayer. Thank you Lord for today. Thank you for helping Kayla and I work things out. Help me to always be honest and upfront with her and to always value the service she brings. Give us a great day tomorrow and thank you for our rest tonight.

  The next day dawned beautifully warm as the sun streaked across the sky. Curt was enjoying his coffee when he saw a horse coming up his driveway. Sitting tall and lovely in the saddle, Kayla smiled and waved when she saw him. She’d make a beautiful bride, Curt thought. Dumbfounded, he shook his head. Where had that thought come from? He didn’t want to get married. He liked his life just the way it was. Didn’t he?

  “Good morning!” Kayla called as she dismounted. He found it odd to see a woman riding a horse as if she were a man. He’d never seen a woman riding anything but sidesaddle and the thought perturbed him. A woman wasn’t a man and shouldn’t be riding like one.

  “Good morning. Did you enjoy your ride?”

  “I did. It’s beautiful on the ride out from town. My horse, Rose Bud, seems to know the way well enough. I barely had to remind him where he was going.”

  “He’s been out here a time or two.”

  “He’ll be out here a lot more from now on. I bought him from the livery.”

  “You did?” Curt asked, surprised. “How much did they charge you?”

  “I spent the ten you gave me for my work yesterday. I figured I needed transportation seeing as I’d be working out here every day. I couldn’t ask you to transport me both ways all the time.”

  “Where will you put him?”

  “I used some of the money you sent me to stable him at the livery for the month. I’ll keep paying a month in advance.”

  “Is it expensive?”

  “Not terrible. Far cheaper than I would have found trying to stable a horse back home.”

  “Alright,” Curt said. “Have you eaten?”

  “I got something light at the café. Gladys was kind enough to let
me in and feed me early this morning when I couldn’t sleep. Then she told me anytime I was up early to come join her for coffee. I’m grateful for a friend.”

  “We’re friends aren’t we?”

  “Yes,” Kayla smiled. “There is a different, however, in having a female friend.”

  “Ah, I suppose I can understand that. I can talk to Pecos in a way I could never talk to a woman.”

  “See, there you go.” Kayla stepped up on the porch and sat down across from him. “I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee if you have any.”

  “Sure,” Curt smiled. He got her a cup, cream and sugar, waiting for her to finish fixing hers. “What do you think about my ranch? Do you think a woman could be happy here?”

  “I think so. You have a beautiful piece of property and your home is wonderful. It’s warm and inviting, not something every home can brag about. I think the right woman could be very happy out here, especially if she loved you.”

  “That eases my mind some.”

  “I take it you’ve got a woman in mind?”

  ***

  The fact that Curt was now thinking about marriage when he’d distinctly told her he wasn’t grated on her nerves. Did he say that simply because he wasn’t attracted to her? Not accustomed to keeping her thought quiet, Kayla asked him.

  “Why are you suddenly interested in marriage when you weren’t yesterday?”

  “I…I realized that I may be standing in God’s way of blessing me. I’ve asked Him to help me remember that my plans for my life may not be His plans. I’m hoping that I can be a faithful servant, even if that means getting married.”

  “I see,” Kayla said. And she did. Curt certainly wasn’t the first person to ever try and wrestle the reins of their life from God. She herself wasn’t nearly as close to Him as she had been, especially since her parent’s death. “Can I go to church with you on Sunday?”

  “Absolutely, I can pick you up before the service with the wagon if you’d like.”